Missionary demographics and statistics in the US
Missionary demographics research summary. Zippia estimates missionary demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our missionary estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about missionaries after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 9,044 missionaries currently employed in the United States.
- 34.6% of all missionaries are women, while 65.4% are men.
- The average missionary age is 49 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of missionaries is White (64.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (13.0%), Asian (9.5%) and Black or African American (8.4%).
- In 2022, women earned 82% of what men earned.
- 28% of all missionaries are LGBT.
- Missionaries are 67% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
On this page
Missionary demographics by:
Missionary gender statistics
34.6% of missionaries are women and 65.4% of missionaries are men.
- Male, 65.4%
- Female, 34.6%
Missionary gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 65.4% |
| Female | 34.6% |
Missionary gender pay gap
Women earn 82¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$60,224
Female income
$49,329
Missionary gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in missionary positions over time. Currently, 34.6% of missionaries are female.
Missionary gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.14% | 30.86% |
| 2011 | 71.19% | 28.81% |
| 2012 | 67.32% | 32.68% |
| 2013 | 72.61% | 27.39% |
| 2014 | 65.87% | 34.13% |
| 2015 | 68.52% | 31.48% |
| 2016 | 68.99% | 31.01% |
| 2017 | 67.45% | 32.55% |
| 2018 | 65.90% | 34.10% |
| 2019 | 58.54% | 41.46% |
| 2020 | 67.35% | 32.65% |
| 2021 | 65.43% | 34.57% |
Missionary related jobs gender ratio
We compared missionaries with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, catholic priest and imam have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Director Of Preschool | 5% | 95% |
| Deaconess | 8% | 92% |
| Christian Science Nurse | 15% | 85% |
| Missionary | 65% | 35% |
| Music Pastor | 93% | 7% |
| Imam | 94% | 6% |
| Catholic Priest | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Missionary demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among missionaries is White, which makes up 64.7% of all missionaries. Comparatively, 13.0% of missionaries are Hispanic or Latino and 9.5% of missionaries are Asian.
- White, 64.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 13.0%
- Asian, 9.5%
- Black or African American, 8.4%
- Unknown, 3.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Missionary race
| Missionary race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 64.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.0% |
| Asian | 9.5% |
| Black or African American | 8.4% |
| Unknown | 3.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Missionary race and ethnicity over time
See how missionary racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Missionary race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.67% | 9.17% | 5.81% | 9.82% |
| 2011 | 75.61% | 7.59% | 5.06% | 10.13% |
| 2012 | 71.31% | 8.32% | 5.72% | 12.58% |
| 2013 | 69.92% | 8.08% | 8.85% | 11.73% |
| 2014 | 68.77% | 8.33% | 7.06% | 12.96% |
| 2015 | 70.00% | 8.76% | 7.77% | 12.04% |
| 2016 | 68.88% | 8.90% | 7.38% | 12.44% |
| 2017 | 70.18% | 7.65% | 8.09% | 11.22% |
| 2018 | 70.27% | 9.40% | 6.18% | 11.25% |
| 2019 | 69.11% | 10.23% | 7.24% | 10.53% |
| 2020 | 66.09% | 10.22% | 7.89% | 12.00% |
| 2021 | 64.68% | 8.42% | 9.55% | 12.98% |
Missionary wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown missionaries have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino missionaries have the lowest average salary at $56,230.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $66,278 |
| White | $56,671 |
| Black or African American | $60,568 |
| Asian | $61,932 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $56,230 |
Average missionary age
See how the average age of missionaries varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Missionary age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 46 | |
| White | 45 | 54 |
| Black or African American | 36 | 52 |
| Asian | 54.5 | 50 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | 44 |
Missionary age breakdown
The average age of missionaries is 40+ years years old, representing 71% of the missionary population.
Missionary age breakdown
| Missionary Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 71% |
| 30-40 years | 16% |
| 20-30 years | 12% |
Missionary educational attainment
The most common degree for missionaries is bachelor's degree, with 52% of missionaries earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 21% and high school diploma degree at 13%.
- Bachelor's, 52%
- High School Diploma, 21%
- Associate, 13%
- Master's, 8%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Missionaries by degree level
| Missionary degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 52% |
| High School Diploma | 21% |
| Associate | 13% |
| Master's | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Missionary jobs you might like
Missionary wage gap by degree level
According to the data, missionaries with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $75,762 annually. With a Associate degree, missionaries earn a median annual income of $64,419 compared to $61,569 for missionaries with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $75,762 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $54,403 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $61,569 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $64,419 |
Missionary employment statistics
Most missionaries work for a private in the non profits industry.
Company size where missionaries work
Below, you can see the size of companies where missionaries work.
Missionary jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 14% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 30% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 29% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 9% |
| > 10,000 employees | 6% |
Missionary jobs by company type
Employees with the missionary job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most missionaries prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Missionary jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 14% |
| Public | 8% |
| Private | 67% |
| Government | 11% |
Missionary jobs by industry
The most common industries for missionaries are non profits, education and retail.
Missionary industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Non Profits | 46% |
| Education | 7% |
| Retail | 6% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Government | 4% |
| Start-up | 4% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Media | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Missionary turnover and employment statistics
Missionary unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for missionaries between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Missionary unemployment rate by year
| Year | Missionary unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.04% |
| 2011 | 2.46% |
| 2012 | 3.97% |
| 2013 | 2.26% |
| 2014 | 2.61% |
| 2015 | 3.56% |
| 2016 | 1.77% |
| 2017 | 2.99% |
| 2018 | 2.46% |
| 2019 | 2.13% |
| 2020 | 3.98% |
| 2021 | 4.73% |
Average missionary tenure
The average missionary stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 11,998 missionaries resumes in Zippia's database.
Missionary tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 15% |
| 1-2 years | 62% |
| 3-4 years | 7% |
| 5-7 years | 6% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Missionary LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of missionaries that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| School Coordinator | 8.30% | 54,132 |
| Community Service Volunteer | 13.09% | 19,389 |
| Teacher Counselor | 13.47% | 83,305 |
| Senior High Pastor | 16.29% | 1,813 |
| Licensed Social Worker | 19.71% | 66,130 |
| Paster Supervisor | 20.25% | 906 |
| Missionary | 27.67% | - |
Similar missionary jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| School Coordinator | 8.30% | 54,132 |
| Community Service Volunteer | 13.09% | 19,389 |
| Teacher Counselor | 13.47% | 83,305 |
| Senior High Pastor | 16.29% | 1,813 |
| Licensed Social Worker | 19.71% | 66,130 |
| Paster Supervisor | 20.25% | 906 |
Foreign languages spoken by missionaries
The most common foreign language among missionaries is Spanish at 63.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Portuguese at 7.4% and French is the third-most popular at 4.9%.
- Spanish, 63.0%
- Portuguese, 7.4%
- French, 4.9%
- Chinese, 3.7%
- Russian, 3.6%
- Other, 17.4%
Missionary languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 63.0% |
| Portuguese | 7.4% |
| French | 4.9% |
| Chinese | 3.7% |
| Russian | 3.6% |
| Other | 17.4% |
